Ordering Faith versus Fact (i.e., do it now, please)

A kindly reader emailed me some information that I decided to investigate, to wit:

It would be a good idea to encourage everybody who follows WEIT and who intends to make the purchase not to wait, but to pre-order.

Your readers will help the book gain the attention of many more readers by pre-ordering at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, or at an independent bookstore. All pre-orders count as first-week sales, and the first week’s sales of any book affect its future by determining how many copies bookstores order, whether it appears on recommended lists, and so on. So these are the best sales to have, because they can boost a book like yours into best-seller territory right away.

I checked with my publisher (Viking/Penguin/Random House) about this, and my editor and others told me not only that the information is correct, but also urged me (translation: demanded) that I put up pre-order information now and keep it on the site. (Pre-ordering links will be the same as ordering links, I suppose, and the book will be available May 19.)

Until I get my web designer to put in permanent links in the upper-right-hand corner, I’ll try to construct a “welcome” page that has the information below. I haven’t yet done this, and am not sure how it works, but it will probably be the page you see when you first click on this website. Do not be frightened when you see it!

As for now, and given the information above, I beseech readers to preorder Faith versus Fact rather than wait until it appears. Look at it this way: if you’ve read this site since the beginning, it’s an investment of less than $4 per year (1¢ per day), and you’ve never seen an ad except this one! Further, by May 19, you’ll have forgotten the expense. (And I’m told that Amazon, at least, doesn’t charge you until the book is shipped.)

That would be a nice sale. . .

Here are three blurbs from those who have read the galleys:

*******

The truth is not always half way between two extremes: some propositions are flat wrong. In this timely and important book, Jerry Coyne expertly exposes the incoherence of the increasingly popular belief that you can have it both ways: that God (or something God-ish, God-like, or God-oid) sort-of exists; that miracles kind-of happen; and that the truthiness of dogma is somewhat-a-little-bit-more-or-less-who’s-to-say-it-isn’t like the truths of science and reason.

Many people are confused about science—about what it is, how it is practiced, and why it is the most powerful method for understanding ourselves and the universe that our species has ever devised. In Faith Versus Fact, Coyne has written a wonderful primer on what it means to think scientifically, showing that the honest doubts of science are better—and more noble—than the false certainties of religion. This is a profound and lovely book. It should be required reading at every college on earth.

—Sam Harris, author of the New York Times bestsellers The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, and Waking Up.

*******

The distinguished geneticist Jerry Coyne trains his formidable intellectual fire power on religious faith, and it’s hard to see how any reasonable person can resist the conclusions of his superbly argued book. Though religion will live on in the minds of the unlettered, in educated circles faith is entering its death throes. Symptomatic of its terminal desperation are the “apophatic” pretensions of “sophisticated theologians”, for whose empty obscurantism Coyne reserves his most devastating sallies. Read this book and recommend it to two friends.

Finally—and I mention this in the book—let me thank the numerous readers who have weighed in on the science/religion conflict over the years. Without the ability to work out my ideas by writing on this site, and to get valuable feedback from you, I doubt that this book would have been written.

I’m curious though, Jerry — is there a “best” strategy for this? Does it matter if the “votes” are spread across various outlets? Or would it be optimal if one site got a relatively huge bunch of orders?

(I’m partial to Powell’s, actually, but pre-ordered Amazon at the first announcement)

Go to your Amazon account settings, click “manage your content and devices”, go to the settings tab, and click the “change country” button. You just have to enter any valid US address (use a hotel!) and away you go in the US Kindle Store.

That doesn’t quite work. To have an American account you also need a valid American credit card to pay for your purchases. What you need is two accounts – an Australian and an American with an assumed American address. Then you give yourself a gift card from your Australian to your American account, and then any purchases on your American account (once you apply the gift card, which can be sent by email) are paid first from any credit balance first.

You also need a second email address too. Just as long as it’s not the same one.

Damn spellcheck. Anyway, as an Australian, I’ve got it on order on my American account. Amazon is a little annoying in that you can change the registered account on the Kindle, and retain purchased content, but can’t do the same with the superior App on the iPad (changing the account automatically deletes all downloaded content in the Kindle App). So I have two iPads, one for each account.

One of the annoying things about Australia is that our publishers still act as if Australia is an island in the middle of nowhere. So not only do we have a smaller range, we pay a premium for it. The digital era is worse because we now know just how badly we are being screwed without being able to do much about it in a legal way. It really sucks.

Slight correction. On the Amazon.uk page for this book I’ve found a link far down on the right which allowed me to request that the publisher make a Kindle version available. This leads me to believe that I can’t pre-order a Kindle version in the UK at least.

Just to add, how can Jerry not be chuffed by the blurbs of two Horsmen and a Horseman-in-Caliber! Obviously Pinkah and Dawkins are heavyweights whose opinion should count for a lot – but Harris is someone who chooses his words very carefully and always means exactly what he says: if he says the book is “lovely,” then I expect the Albatross is going to be an even better read than I had imagined. Really excited for May now!

Little bits of content have been implied here and there. From this web site, and now from the reviewers. I was recently going over the WEIT book, and I still marvel at how nicely our host puts things.
This is gonna be good. Endorsements like these make the case clear.

Links don’t work. They take you to some University of Chicago “Beware of Phishing Emails” page with a “log in” prompt and username/password fields. You probably can’t see them because you have a log in.

If it helps any, if I don’t hear from you around May, I will try to hold a séance and we’ll all try to read it to you. We’ll make it a scientific séance. (a quantum séance, widely reported in the literature to be quite effective)

I can’t seem to use any of the links for pre-ordering your book, as I do not have a user name and password in the University of Chicago system. I am emeritus from the University of Iowa and now teaching one course formerly called historical geology in the Earth & Planetary Sciences dept. at Northwestern.
Gil Klapper

Done..and if anyone needs another reason why everyone should by this book check out the BBC website reports covering the vote in GB Parliament for scientific sense against the religious nonsense of three parent families.

This is exciting. I am very much looking forward to reading this book.

I want desperately for some of my nephews and nieces to read it due to their horrid catholic indoctrination and upbringing. I must be careful, though, which is ironic as one of the indoctrinators routinely sends catholic essays, histories, etc. to members of her family. It is quite upsetting, but no one in our family, other than myself, is willing to confront her on the topic of religion. She’s loud, opinionated, and quite knowledgeable on the various topics that directly and indirectly deal with science and religion. This scares everyone off, I’m afraid to say.

BTW, I pre-ordered “Faith vs Fact” (or as I call it in my mind, “Bullshit vs The Obvious”) on January 11. My version is Kindle, so, just like the new release of new DVDs on Tuesdays, I can access it immediately when release day comes! CAN’T WAIT!

Great blurbs but the usual suspects. Your publisher should want someone else blurbing too. I recommend a preacher condemning to hell all who read the thing, or at least JAC himself. A “Horrible, horrible” from Deepakity would be nice.

That suggestion reminds me of Banksy’s book ‘Wall and Piece’ which carries on the back cover: “No way are you going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover” – Metropolitan Police spokesperson.

I was unable to order it in Ireland (through either iTunes or Amazon). I’ve ordered it to a UK address though where I’ll be able to collect it … can’t wait to read it! Just thought I’d mention this in case you miss out on some other Irish pre-orders.

Well, if the readers also send me enough postage for me to return the book to them, yes, I’ll sign it and send it on (but no drawings of cats!). Do remember that overseas postage is pretty expensive–often close to the price of the book.

Jerry, you should be able to designate a favorite bookstore in Chicago where buyers may pre-order copies that you will then inscribe for them at the store before the books are shipped. No need for you to be mailing books.

The book is not available on kindle in the UK. I’ve pressed the ‘I want to read this on Kindle’ button, so if more people do that maybe it will help. Or is it possible for you to request a UK Kindle release, Professor?
Would be greatly appreciated.

I was going to wait, for no particular reason, until the book was in stores. But I will pre-order at least one copy as soon as I can find what I’ve done with my Amazon sign in info.

Excellent blurbs. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I would like to send a copy to my mother. She is an amazing person and I love her as only a child can love their mother, but I don’t think she would appreciate it.

Jerry: Pre-ordered the first time you noted that it was up on Amazon for Pre-order. And I ordered the HB, which I now (with retirement beginning to dawn over the horizon) only do for very special books. 🙂

I’ve now ordered two copies, one from Amazon and one from Annie Bloom’s, my local and beloved independent book store in Portland, OR. Portland is also home to Powell’s Books, which is a truly wonderful haven for bibliophiles of all persuasions.

Pre-ordered. Probably the best investment I’ve made for some time. Especially if it helps keep WEIT up and running. I’m sure that I speak for the silent majority in thanking you Jerry for all the time and effort you put in to your site.

Ben–it should be possible for you to pre-order from a store in Chicago that Jerry might designate. Then he can visit the store and inscribe copies for those who have asked for signed ones, and the store will ship them out.

I buy several audio books per month and they are almost always read by professional actors. The one exception I recall is one of the “Great Courses” by Bart Ehrman, and he had so many “uhs” that it about drove me nuts. Having Jerry read his own book would be a big mistake.

Already pre-ordered a few months ago, but I’m thinking about getting another copy or two, especially if…

Do you plan on doing a book tour at all or anything promotional? If not a full blown tour, perhaps a store or two around Chicago or maybe even at the University book store?

I don’t doubt you’ll keep us updated about any plans for that sort of thing. Or if there are no plans, it could be something to think about. It’s a win/win for everyone as many of us would greatly enjoy that sort of thing and you’re only up to sell more copies!

For Canadians, fortunately the Kindle version can be pre-ordered from Amazon.ca as well. I’m glad this is the case, because we often miss out on those (this being a country dominated by the inferior Kobo) It’s a lot cheaper to get it from Amazon.ca than .com because of the weakness of the Canadian dollar, which is only worth about $.80 these days.

I did not pre-order on purpose. I wait until it is out and then order 4-5 copies (I will give some copies to friends) in my local book shop. When my local book shop gets such an order (4-5 copies), they tend to stock more of them, in the ‘science’ section, of course, where 4-5 copies equates (sadly) to a best-seller.
I’m really looking forward. Why is ‘Faith versus Fact’ referred to as ‘The Albatross’? Or am I mixed up there?

I wanted to pre-order Faith versus Fact today from Amazon, but some bum “compromised” my credit card number and is having a nice spending spree in another country. I’ll have to wait for a new card to pre-order on line.

I had put off ordering because I couldn’t decide whether I wanted a Kindle or hardback. Although I love Kindle books for the convenience, people never can tell what you’re reading and you miss a good opportunity for a conversation.

Under pressure, I went ahead and ordered the hardback. I wish they’d make an ebook where the screen wrapped around the entire device, so it could display a “cover”.

There’s been a few comments that if you have Australian or British accounts on Amazon, there’s no Kindle edition available for pre-order.

Two suggestions. 1. Add to Wishlist and check closer to the release date (May is a long way off and a Kindle edition may be available by then), or if you can’t wait, and are very impatient 2. Open a separate American account with an American address (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a good one) and a different email address and give yourself a gift card from your non-American account to your American account, and purchases are debited against any credit balance. Not recommended if you read books on an iPad though – changing accounts automatically deletes downloaded books. OK on Kindles.

The usual practice with a title in UK etiquette at least is to insert a greater title after the lesser title so the physicist John Polkingthorne is the Reverend Dr John Polkingthorne, KBE, FRS, & the chemist (& imho great bloke!) David King is Professor Sir David King FRS, HonFREng. Jerry would be perhaps Professor Distinguished Ceiling Cat Jerry A. Coyne, etc etc!

I want to buy the book, but I usually buy books for Kindle.
Does ordering Faith versus Fact in Kindle edition achieves the same goal that is helps the future of the book?
Since Kindle is only available at Amazon, I’m not sure that pre-ordering the book in Kindle version will actually achieve this same goal.

You said, ” Without the ability to work out my ideas by writing on this site, and to get valuable feedback from you, I doubt that this book would have been written.”

I was just thinking sometime ago how it must be difficult, wanting to spend more time on biology and evolution and such, but to constantly have to beat back the bad ideas. In Richard Dawkins, “Greatest Show on Earth”, the opening chapter begins with being a hypothetical teacher of ancient Rome. And now imagine having to constantly push back against fools who want to undermine your work and convince others the Romans never existed.

Must be very frustrating to waste resources. Perhaps in a few hundred years, our ancestors will review our archives and wonder why we spent so much time battling ghosts and goblins.

If consciousness doesn’t *do* anything, then there is no *evidence* for it. If reductionism/determinism is true, then to view your fellow humans as conscious aka having “minds” is a form of unscientific faith.

How about seeing stones, or storms, or volcanoes as having minds? What specific measurements have been performed on humans to conclude they have “minds” ? Do you believe in reductionism / determinism (+quantum randomness if you like)? If a quark doesn’t have a conscious mind, and a molecule and so on to an individual neuron, and a thing is the sum of its parts, what empirical problem does a theory of “mind” solve? Thank you.

You know, the state of knowledge has improved in the millennia since Zeno.

Place a grain of sand on a table. Add another. And another. And keep adding grains, one at a time.

At what point do you no longer have a collection of a few grains of sand, and instead have a pile of sand?

Where is the pile in the single grain?

Until you can convince me that there is no pile of sand because it’s just a bunch of grains, I’m not going to be impressed with naïve reductionist objections to consciousness such as the one you raise — and I rather doubt Darrelle nor anybody else here will be, either.

Pile is a word people use. Grain is word people use. There is never a point that X# of grains become a pile. This whole example takes place at an extremely *casual* level of analysis.

If one person insisted that the a volcano, by rumbling, was consciously demanding a virgin sacrifice, and 2nd person brought in geologists to point out that all of the volcano’s behaviors could be explained using simple physics, would you scoff? referring to the geologist’s explanation as amounting to a “naive reductionist objection” to volcano consciousness? why or why not?

I saw that too, but when I clicked it, the #1 actually was a book by CS Lewis, and Jerry’s was in 2nd. Sam Harris’s Waking up was in third.
It surprised me to see Bill Nye’s latest book about evolution ranked in that same list, as “religious studies”.

As an author myself, yes, it’s true about how pre-orders can push a book to the best seller lists. I’ll go order mine now. However, for the sake of your local independent booksellers, get your second and third copies for gifts/giveaway from them! We need to keep these folks in business because they’re the ones who will keep hand-selling your book for years. Amazon won’t.